Dental instrument with matrix retainer and crimping pliers for band retaining clamp



g- 1964 B. F. TOFFLEMIRE 3,145,473

, DENTAL INSTRUMENT WITH MATRIX RETAINER AND CRIMFING PLIERS FOR BAND RETAINING CLAMP Filed Jan. 14, 1963 19 T151 5. ll 27 37 42 28 D 35 i B L A j; l5

32 so 29 4o INVEN TOR.

BENJAMHN F. TOFFLEMIRE ATTORNEY TlEnL United States Patent 3,145,473 DENTAL INSTRUMENT WITH MATRIX RETAINER AND CRIMPING PLIERS FOR BAND RETATN- ING CLAMP Benjamin F. Toiilemire, Rt). Box 677, Lafayette, Calif. Filed Jan. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 251,181 4 Claims. (Cl. 32-63) The present invention relates to improvements in a dental instrument with matrix retainer and crimping pliers for band retaining clamp. It has particular reference to improvements over the Dental Retainer With Crimping Device for Matrix Band Retaining Clamp, shown in my copending application, Serial No. 184,149, filed in the United States Patent Office on April 2, 1962, now patent No. 3,105,301, dated October 1, 1963.

An object of this invention is to provide a combination dental instrument in which a matrix retainer may be detachably connected to crimping pliers, the latter being disclosed in my copendin application, filed in the United States Patent Ofiice on August 3, 1961, Serial No. 129,189, and entitled Dental Instrument for Crimping Retaining Clamp on Matrix Band now Patent No. 3,105,402, dated October 1, 1963. The matrix band retaining clamp utilized in conjunction with the new instrument is illustrated in my United States Patent No. 3,046,659, dated July 31, 1962.

The new combination dental instrument thus provided may be readily utilized for applying a matrix band around an upper or a lower tooth on either the right or left side of a patients mouth from either the lingual or buccal aspect of the banded tooth, and a retaining clamp applied by the crimping pliers may be crimped onto overlapped end sections of the matrix band to hold the latter firmly in place. Thereafter, the crimpling pliers and the matrix retainer may be detached from the crimped retaining clamp and the matrix band, respectively, whereby the pliers and the retainer may be removed from the patients month, while leaving the band encircling the tooth and securely held in place by the crimped clamp.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds. The novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Drawing For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an occlusal view of the teeth in the lower left quadrant of a patients mouth, and illustrating my dental instrument as being used for securing a matrix band around a selected tooth;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan View of the dental instrument shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the matrix retainer by itself;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the crimping pliers; and

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of one of the retaining clamps.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed Description Referring now to the drawing in detail, I have shown crimping pliers designated generally at A having a pair of operating handles 19 and 11 swingably secured together by a journal pin 12 for closing and opening movements. A mesial jaw 14 is fixed to the handle 10, while a distal jaw 15 is fixed to the handle 11.

These jaws project in offset relation relative to their respective handles, whereby the jaws may be moved over a substantially U-shaped retaining clamp B to straddle the latter. This clamp has legs 16 defining a slot 17 therebetween and through which overlapped ends sections 18 of a looped matrix band C may extend, the band having a loop 19 for encircling a selected tooth D (see FIGURE 1). The crimping pliers A may be arranged on the lingual aspect 20 or the buccal aspect 21 of the banded tooth. The legs 16 have lugs 22 on their exterior surfaces, these lugs being spaced apart so that the jaws of the pliers may be inserted therebetween, with the lugs holding the retaining clamp B from slipping laterally relative to the crimping pliers A. An exterior rib 23 is formed on one of the legs 16 so as to fit into a V-shaped groove 24 provided on the inner surface of the distal jaw 15 (See FIGURE 5). Also, a V-shaped blade 25 is fashioned on the inner surface of the mesial jaw 14.

When the jaws 14 and 15 are forced toward one another, the blade 25 and the groove 24 will form indentations 26 in the overlapped end sections 18 of the matrix band C that are interposed between the legs of the retaining clamp (see FIGURE 3). This will prevent the retaining clamp B from slipping along the lengths of the band ends.

As previously mentioned, the details of the crimping pliers A are more fully set forth in my copending application, Serial No. 129,189, filed August 3, 1961, now Patent No. 3,105,402 ,dated October 1, 1963. Also, the details and advantages of the retaining clamp B are fully disclosed in my Patent No. 3,046,659, dated July 31, 1962.

In FIGURE 3, the jaws 14 and 15 are shown as being dimensioned for being confined between opposite lateral sides of the retaining clamp B, and thus the latter may be crimped adjacent to the tooth D around which the band C is applied.

As an important part of my combination dental instrument, I mount a matrix retainer E on one of the handles. In the drawing, the selected handle is designated at 11 and the retainer is positioned to extend generally lengthwise of this handle, with the retainer being disposed on the gingival-facing aspect 27 of this handle.

In its structural features, the matrix retainer E has a longitudinal frame 28 on which a slidable block 29 is disposed for back and forth adjustment movement there along. The overlapped end sections 18 of the band C may be inserted into a diagonal slot 30 formed in this block. For the purpose of detachably securing the end sections 18 to the block, the latter is formed with a threaded bore 31 that intersects the diagonal slot 30 (see FIGURE 4). A spindle 32 has its forward end threaded into the bore 31, and this spindle has a conical end 33 arranged to anchor the end sections 18 of the band C to the slidable block. The spindle may be rotated by a knob 34 to cause the conical end 33 to engage with the band ends.

It will be apparent that retraction of the block 29 along the frame 28, that is, to the left in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, will draw the loop 19 of the matrix band C tightly around the banded tooth D, while movement of the block in the opposite direction will relax the grip of the band upon the tooth. For the purpose of moving the spindle 32 axiallyspindle 32 and sleeve 35 form a loop-constricting means engageable with the end sections 18 of the looped band C and operable to pull the latter through the retaining clamp B so as to constrict the band around the patients tooth.

Thereafter, the handles it) and 11 may be moved to force the jaws 14 and 15 toward one another so as to crimp the clamp B on the interposed overlapped end sections 18 of the band. Then the crimping pliers A and the matrix retainer B may be detached from the crimped retaining clamp B and the matrix band C, respectively, whereby the pliers and the retainer may be removed from the patients mouth, while leaving the band C encircling the tooth D and securely held in place by the crimped clamp B. The excess ends of the band beyond this clamp may be sheared 01f.

The matrix retainer E is provided with a shield 38, and the latter has a pair of convex guide surfaces over which the end sections 18 of the band disposed between the clamp B and the loop-constricting means may be pulled during the constricting of the loop 19. As clearly shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the shield 38 is substantially C- shaped in edge view to define these lateral guide surfaces, whereby the end sections 18 may be pulled over one of these guide surfaces and the loop 19 extended from the opposite lateral side of the retaining clamp B. This arrangement will permit the matrix band to be applied to the selected tooth D from either the lingual or the buccal aspect.

Moreover, the mesial jaw 14 of the crimping pliers A is disposed with the confines of the shield 33 so that this jaw may be moved without interference by the matrix band C. As shown in FIGURE 4, the ends 39 of the C of the shield 33 are disposed so as to substantially register with opposite lateral sides 40 of the retaining clamp B and provide abutments against which the clamp may bear during the constricting of the loop 19.

In order that the matrix retainer B may be detachably mounted on the operating handle 11, a spring finger 41 has been provided on the forward part of the frame 23, and this finger is made for engaging over the operating handle 11. Also, a concaved saddle 42 is formed on the rear part of the frame 28 so as to bear against the gingivalfacing aspect 27 of the handle 11. In attaching the retainer to this handle, the finger 41 may be engaged over the handle 11 and the saddle 42 moved against the handle 11. Then the retainer B may be rotated into a median line direction so that the Q-shaped shield 38 will line up with the mesial jaw 14 of the crimping pliers A. Then the retainer may be slid forward as far as the mesial jaw 14 will permit, with the mesial jaw passing through the space between the ends 39 of the shield 38 into the confines of the C-shaped shield. The retainer E will then be securely and immovably held in this operative position. The detaching operation is simply a step-by-step reversal of the foregoing attaching directions.

The slidable block 29 may be removed from the frame 28 for repair or replacement, if desired, by moving the block rearwardly until it registers with a notch 43 formed in the frame 28 (see FIGURES 3 and 4). It will be apparent that the retainer frame 28, its spring arm 41 and saddle 42 may be formed by a stamping operation.

I claim:

1. In a dental instrument with matrix retainer and crimping pliers for band retaining clamp;

(a) crimping pliers having a pair of operating handles swingably secured together for closing and opening movement;

(b) a mesial jaw fixed to one of the handles and a distal jaw fixed to the other handle;

(0) these jaws projectingin offset relation relative to their respective handles;

(d) a matrix retainer mounted on one of the handles to extend generally lengthwise of this handle, with the retainer being disposed on the gingival-facing aspect of this handle, and the retainer having a matrix band loop-constricting means connected to the retainer rearwardly of the mesial jaw;

(e) and the matrix retainer being provided with a shield at its forward end, the mesial jaw being disposed within the confines of this shield and the shield having a laterally-arranged convex matrixband guide surface disposed forwardly of the loop-constricting means. 7

2. In a dental instrument with matrix retainer and crimping pliers for band retaining clamp:

(a) crimping pliers having a pair of operating handles swingably secured together for closing and opening movements;

([2) a mesial jaw fixed to one of the handles and a distal jaw fixed to the other handle;

(0) these jaws projecting in offset relation relative to their respective handles;

(a') a matrix retainer mounted on one of the handles to extend generally lengthwise of this handle, with the retainer being disposed on the gingival-facing aspect of this handle, and the retainer having a matrix band loop-constricting means connected to the retainer rearwardly of the mesial jaw; V

(e) and the matrix retainer being provided with a shield which is substantially Z-shaped in edge view to define a pair of laterally-arranged matrix band guide surfaces disposed forwardly of the loop-constricting means, the mesial jaw being'disposed within the confines of this shield.

3. In a dental instrument with matrix retainer and crimping pliers for band retaining clamp;

(a) crimping pliers having a pair ofoperating handles swingably secured together for closing and opening movements;

(b) a mesial jaw fixed to one of the handles and a distal jaw fixed to the other handle; v (c) these jaws projecting in offset relation relative to their respective handles;

(d) a matrix retainer mounted on one of the handles to extend generally lengthwise of this handle, with the retainer being disposed on the gingival-facing aspect of this handle, and the retainer having a matrix band loop-constricting means connected to the retainer rearwardly of the mesial jaw;

(e) the matrix retainer being provided with a shield at its forward end which is substantially C-shaped, with the mesial jaw of the crimping pliers being disposed within the confines of this shield.

4. The dental instrument with matrix retainer and crimping pliers for band retaining clamp, as set forth in claim 3,

(f) and in which the ends of the C of the shield provide retaining clamp abutments.

References ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A DENTAL INSTRUMENT WITH MATRIX RETAINER AND CRIMPING PLIERS FOR BAND RETAINING CLAMP; (A) CRIMPING PLIERS HAVING A PAIR OF OPERATING HANDLES SWINGABLY SECURED TOGETHER FOR CLOSING AND OPENING MOVEMENT; (B) A MESIAL JAW FIXED TO ONE OF THE HANDLES AND A DISTAL JAW FIXED TO THE OTHER HANDLE; (C) THESE JAWS PROJECTING IN OFFSET RELATION RELATIVE TO THEIR RESPECTIVE HANDLES; (D) A MATRIX RETAINER MOUNTED ON ONE OF THE HANDLES TO EXTEND GENERALLY LENGTHWISE OF THIS HANDLE, WITH THE RETAINER BEING DISPOSED ON THE GINGIVAL-FACING ASPECT OF THIS HANDLE, AND THE RETAINER HAVING A MATRIX BAND LOOP-CONSTRICTING MEANS CONNECTED TO THE RETAINER REARWARDLY OF THE MESIAL JAW; (E) AND THE MATRIX RETAINER BEING PROVIDED WITH A SHIELD AT ITS FORWARD END, THE MESIAL JAW BEING DISPOSED WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THIS SHIELD AND THE SHIELD HAVING A LATERALLY-ARRANGED CONVEX MATRIX BAND GUIDE SURFACE DISPOSED FORWARDLY OF THE LOOP-CONTRICTING MEANS. 